THE PLACE TO GO WHEN YOU CAN'T GO BACKPACKING

Happy Earth Day – Go Celebrate

It’s Earth Day and we love any excuse to get outside. Especially when the sun is doing its thing in Seattle. This infographic with history and more great stats and reminders about why we love our National Parks. But today we have an extra reason. It’s Monday, it’s sunny, you’re an outdoors person… do you need more excuses? Well, how about this: All week the National Parks Service is admitting visitors free of charge! And, in case you are new the area, or just forgot, you have four gorgeous National Parks within a 3-hour drive of your door step (if you are in the Seattle area). They are: North Cascades, Rainier, Olympic and Mt St Helens ( Technically National Volcanic Monument, but we like to count it).

A native of Minnesota, Erika moved to Seattle in the late 90s and immediately fell in love with the landscape of the Pacific Northwest. She is a photographer, specializing in landscapes, though she enjoys capturing people as well. Her travels have taken her from Newfoundland to Belize, From Paris to Nepal. She has written a book about her trek through Nepal and is the editor of SBM. Erika currently resides in Kirkland with her husband and two sons.